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SHOP LOCAL – keep your neighbours in work Young champ OBSERVER SPORT www.spec.com.au FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 Off to State titles P. 33 $1.60 inc GST Busy bunnies get ready for a Percy Street Easter fair TIANA RICHARDSON PERCY Street between Henty and Julia streets will be the home to an Easter Saturday Fair adding vibrancy to the area and fun for locals and tourists. The fair, on April 19, is a collaborative effort between the Portland Observer, the Revitalise Portland group, the Portland Community Markets and Percy St traders. The street will be closed to traffic and will include local traders displaying their wares, stalls in the middle of the street with 30 already confirmed, live music, children’s activities and even a visit from the Easter Bunny. “This is a great project because it promotes community engagement and different groups working together,” Committee for Portland executive officer Anita Rank said. “We are providing something to do in Portland for this long weekend and also involving the traders to support and enhance retail. “It is evident from the cruise ship visit what Portland is capable of when it works together,” she said. The idea for the fair came about through discussion amongst Observer staff members about doing something on the Easter weekend. The Spectator Publishing Group general manager Gerard Lucas said the enthusiasm from Observer staff and the local traders was encouraging. Continued PAGE 2 PERCY Street will be transformed for an Easter Saturday Fair. The April 19 fair is supported by the Portland Observer, the Revitalise Portland group, Portland Community Markets and Percy St traders, including Janine Sheehan with Bilko the rabbit, Pauline Stanley and Gwenda Smith. Picture: ELLY HATELEY 140326eh27 Geothermal push Plan for a new bore to service system BILL MELDRUM PLANNING to sink a bore to service Portland’s defunct geothermal network is underway. The Glenelg Shire Council will seek permits and licences from Southern Rural Water to drill and extract water. A site for the bore and the associated infrastructure needed for the geothermal project is yet to be determined. In other key developments the council has: • Voted to go it alone on the geothermal project after joint venture talks with Wannon Water were unsuccessful – with council wanting to own and manage the new bore. • Engaged consultants GHD Pty Ltd to start design work to replace the ageing pipes which are used to heat municipal buildings and the Portland Leisure and Aquatic Centre. Cr Gilbert Wilson told Tuesday night’s council meeting that it was disappointing there would be no joint venture project with Wannon Water. “However, we are starting to move and kick goals on this project … we have some fantastic facilities that will benefit from this like our swimming pools,” he said. The previous geothermal system operated from the early 1980s until 2006 when the Henty Park bore was decommissioned by Wannon Water. The bore was also used as a water supply for Portland for about 14 years, but was used solely for the geothermal system only from the late 1990s after its water quality deteriorated. Since 2006 the system has used natural gas fired heaters, with the hot water circulated in a closed loop. Municipal buildings serviced by the existing reticulation system include the Portland library, the civic hall, the municipal office, the State Emergency Service building, the Portland Arts Centre, the Fawthrop Centre and the Portland Leisure and Aquatic Centre. In a written report to Tuesday night’s meeting, shire assets senior engineer Stuart Ferrier said Wannon Water had rejected re-establishing a water supply bore at Henty Park because of “insufficient room to construct a water storage basin to meet emergency demand, especially smelter demand”. It also said there would be a need to procure new pumps, cooling towers and treatment facilities. He said Wannon Water was planning to replace its Wyatt St bore, but the shire would find it difficult to source geothermal water from a bore at Wyatt St for several reasons including: • The high cost of bringing hot water in insulated pipes from Wyatt St across the Fawthrop Lagoon and along urban streets to the existing geothermal loop main. • The bore does not operate continuously, so it would be an unreliable source of heat energy. • Because the bore is used for back-up demand only, when the demand is highest for back-up water (usually summer), the requirement for heat energy is at its lowest. Shire chief executive officer Sharon Kelsey said on Wednesday morning that while the doors were still potentially open for a joint venture to happen with another party, the council would ultimately want to retain control of the geothermal system. Continued PAGE 2 Another look into Portland murders TIANA RICHARDSON A PORTLAND identity this week was interviewed by a homicide squad detective regarding new evidence relating to the Old London murders. Shaun Smith yesterday confirmed he spoke to a detective and said he hoped the evidence he provided would help solve the murders of Claire Acocks and Margaret Penny almost 23 years ago. Mr Smith said he made a report to police shortly after the murders in May 1991 but it was never followed up on. “At least it is now being followed up,” Mr Smith said. “It is something I would love to see solved.” The Old London murders is expected to be the focus of a segment on Channel Nine’s flagship current affairs program 60 Minutes this Sunday at 7.40pm, featuring an interview with Mr Smith. In a promotional video for the segment, 60 Minutes reporter Allison Langdon is also seen speaking to former Portland Mayor Bob Menzel who provided evidence to police of a man seen leaving the Old London building shortly after the murders are believed to have happened.